Conrad Black is suing the U.S. in a bid to cancel his convictions for fraud and obstruction of justice, saying the seizure of $9 million prevented him from hiring the defence counsel of his choice.

Conrad Black, the former Hollinger International Inc. chairman found guilty of fraud and obstruction of justice, is suing the U.S. in a bid to cancel the convictions.

Black, 67, argued Monday today in papers filed in federal court in Chicago that prosecutors’ seizure of nearly $9 million in proceeds from his sale of a Manhattan apartment in 2005 prevented him from hiring the defence counsel of his choice, violating his constitutional rights.

Black’s trial defence team was led by Toronto’s Edward Greenspan and Chicago lawyer Edward Genson. The former CEO wanted to retain Brendan Sullivan and Gregory Craig of Washington-based Williams & Connolly LLP, according to Monday’s filing

“It is too late to turn back the clock and to restore the deprivation of Mr. Black’s constitutionally guaranteed right to counsel of choice,” his lawyers said. “However, it is not too late for Mr. Black’s remaining convictions to be vacated.”

Black noted that he was acquitted of the crimes related to the confiscated money.

“The seized funds were returned to him, but the damage was done,” he said.

He is also asking for dismissal of the indictment and official cancellation of the sentence he served, about three years.

When Black was chairman and chief executive officer from October 1995 to November 2003, Hollinger was the world’s third- largest publisher of English-language newspapers.

He and four other men were accused of skimming money from the Chicago-based company as it built up more than $3 billion in assets from 1998 to 2001. One of them, ex-finance chief F. David Radler, pleaded guilty to fraud and testified against the others.

Black successfully appealed two of three fraud charges for which he was found guilty, winning a reduction of his original 6 ½-year sentence. He was freed from a U.S. prison in Miami last month and flown to Toronto, where he now lives.

Randall Samborn, a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in Chicago, declined to comment on Black’s request.

More on thestar.com

We value respectful and thoughtful discussion. Readers are encouraged to flag comments that fail to meet the standards outlined in our
Community Code of Conduct.
For further information, including our legal guidelines, please see our full website
Terms and Conditions.